Merge branch 'commochameleon' into 'master'

Commochameleon

See merge request !289

content/applications/user_software/using_anaconda_package_manager.md

@@ -96,13 +96,6 @@ under.
 
 ### Creating Custom Anaconda Environments
 
-{{% notice info %}}
-**NOTE:** By default, conda packages are installed in the user's `home` directory.
-Since Crane's `home` directories are not writeable from the worker nodes,
-the commands for installing, adding and removing conda packages shown here
-should be performed on the **login node**, and not as part of an interactive or SLURM job.
-{{% /notice %}}
-
 The `create` command is used to create a new environment.  It requires
 at a minimum a name for the environment, and at least one package to
 install.  For example, suppose we wish to create a new environment, and
@@ -127,6 +120,34 @@ conda activate mynumpy
 
 Our new environment is now active, and we can use it.  The shell prompt will change to indicate this as well.
 
+### Using /common for environments
+
+By default, conda environments are installed in the user's `home` directory at `~/.conda/envs`.
+This is fine for smaller environments, but larger environments (especially ML/AI-based ones) can quickly
+exhaust the space in the `home` directory.
+
+For larger environments, we recommend using the `$COMMON` folder instead. To do so, use the `-p` option
+instead of `-n` for `conda create`.  For example, creating the same environment as above but
+placing it in the folder `$COMMON/mynumpy` instead.
+
+{{% panel theme="info" header="Create environment in /common" %}}
+{{< highlight bash >}}
+conda create -p $COMMON/mynumpy numpy=1.17
+{{< /highlight >}}
+{{% /panel %}}
+
+To activate the environment, you must use the full path.
+
+{{% panel theme="info" header="Activate environment in /common" %}}
+{{< highlight bash >}}
+conda activate $COMMON/mynumpy
+{{< /highlight >}}
+{{% /panel %}}
+
+**Please note** that you'll need to add the `#SBATCH --licenses=common` directive to your submit scripts
+ as described [here]({{< relref "using_the_common_file_system" >}}) in order to use environments
+in `$COMMON`.
+
 ### Adding and Removing Packages from an Existing Environment
 
 To install additional packages in an environment, use the `install`